Gettysburg's season ends in defeat

The season didn't end the way for Gettysburg's baseball team that the Warriors were hoping it would, but they took a few steps forward this season, despite dropping their season finale, 5-0, to Boiling Springs on Tuesday afternoon.

Gettysburg (11-8) had a shot to qualify for the District 3 Class AAA tournament with a win, but the loss eliminated that chance.

"If you told me after we started the season 0-4 that we would've had a chance to make districts if we won our final game, I would've taken it," Gettysburg coach Ryan Brady said. "Despite the bad start, our kids kept battling all season and gave themselves a shot."

The Warriors improved on last season's 9-11 record, Brady's first at the helm, and that followed a 2-18 campaign in 2014.

The squad had just two seniors — first baseman-pitcher P.J. Cosden and outfielder Tyler Wilt — both of whom started throughout the season.

"We'll have a lot of experience back next year. And not just guys that were starters this year," Brady said. "We'll have guys that will be going into their third or fourth years as starters. We return seven of our nine regular starters from this year, plus other talented players."

On Tuesday, the hosts sent senior Hunter Breon to the hill and he shut the Warriors down on just two hits. He struck out seven and walked one, while throwing 59 of his 86 pitches for strikes.

"We knew he was a good pitcher coming into the game," Brady said. "We only got two hits, but we squared a few up that they were able to run down."

The best opportunity the Warriors had to score came in the first inning when Ethan Ketterman drew a two-out walk and Cosden then reached on an error. Breon struck out the next hitter, though.

Boiling Springs (11-8) scored a single run in the second when Kyle Swartz singled in Travis Wickard, then a single by Hunter Goshorn and a fielder's choice by Matt Bear in the third bumped the advantage to 3-0.

Chris Powell recorded both Gettysburg hits with singles in the third and fifth innings.